Camino de Glendalough
The Camino de Glendalough takes pilgrims through the beautiful Wicklow Mountains between Hollywood and Glendalough. The route follows the ancient pilgrim path of St Kevin’s Way from St Kevin’s Church in Hollywood to the Monastic City in Glendalough. The full Camino covers a distance of 30 kilometres but there are also many opportunities to join the path for individuals and groups wishing to make shorter journeys.
Glendalough Camino 2019 – Timetable
The annual Dublin & Glendalough diocesan pilgrimage, the Glendalough Camino, will take place on Saturday September 14. Pilgrims taking part can choose to walk the full route from Hollywood to Glendalough or follow a number of shorter trails during the day.
The pilgrimage has traditionally taken place on a Sunday but has been moved to a Saturday this year following feedback from clergy of the dioceses. The new day will facilitate clergy taking part in this diocesan event with their parishioners.
The Glendalough Camino connects two churches at either end of St Kevin’s Way – St Kevin’s Church in Hollywood and St John’s Church in Laragh. For those planning to follow the full 30 kilometre Camino along St Kevin’s Way, there will be a Pilgrims Blessing in the ancient pilgrim church of St Kevin in Hollywood at 9am on Saturday morning. They should allow six hours to complete the route.
Throughout the day pilgrims will be facilitated to take shorter journeys with a mini bus being laid on to transport people from St John’s Church in Laragh, which is at the Glendalough end of the route, to the Wicklow Gap at regular intervals.
All participants on all the routes are invited to attend the short closing service which takes place at the stone ring fort on the shores of the Upper Lake in Glendalough at 5pm.
A bus will be provided to bring people back to Hollywood at about 5.30pm. Those wishing to avail of this service must register and provide contact details before departing from St Kevin’s Church in the morning.
St Kevin’s Way is one of the recognised Celtic Camino routes and those planning to walk the Camino de Santiago can get their Camino Passports stamped at the beginning and the end of the day to count towards the completion of their Compostela.
TIME TABLE
9:00 am: St. Kevin’s Church, Hollywood – Pilgrims intending to complete the full St Kevin’s Way will be sent out with a Pilgrim’s Blessing. Anyone wishing to avail of the bus back to Hollywood must register at St Kevin’s and provide contact details.
10:30am: Pilgrims planning to walk from either Wicklow Gap or around Glendalough, are invited to make their way to St John’s Church, Laragh. A minibus will be on hand to take people to the Wicklow Gap or the Monastic City.
11:00 am, 12 midday, 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm: St John’s Church, Laragh – A minibus will take pilgrims to Wicklow Gap, where they will be able to walk back to Glendalough along St Kevin’s way.
5.00pm: Upper Lake, Glendalough – Pilgrims will gather at the stone ringfort on the shores of the Upper Lake for a short outdoor service of thanksgiving and prayer. A minibus will be available to take pilgrims back to Hollywood after this service.
Please feel free to join at any time throughout the day.
Updates will be available on the diocesan website at
www.dublin.anglican.org/about-us/camino-de-glendalough and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DublinandGlendalough
There are plans to organise smaller group pilgrimages from St John’s Church in Laragh. It is also hoped to link in with the Camino de Santiago.
A booklet has been produced to accompany those who undertake the Camino de Glendalough. The booklet details the route of the Camino and also gives an insight into why people undertake pilgrimage and the story of the life of St Kevin. A brief history of the Monastic City of Glendalough is also outlined.
The booklet can be downloaded here.